GENESEO, N.Y.  State University of New York at Geneseo Associate Professor of Finance Yanxiang "Anthony" Gu has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to teach and conduct research in China during the 2005-06 academic year.

Gu, who will leave for China in early June, received a letter in early April from the William J. Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board confirming his award. His yearlong Fulbright assignment begins in the fall. As part of his Fulbright Scholar grant, Gu will lecture about futures and options, fixed incomes and market and securities. In addition, he will collect data on the housing and stock markets. He will find out his assigned college in China later this month.

Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator William J. Fulbright of Arkansas, the programs purpose is to build mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries. The Council for International Exchange of Scholars administers the award, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

College officials are thrilled for Gu, who joined the Geneseo faculty in 1999 and is the third faculty member within the past decade to be selected as a Fulbright scholar.

"I was extremely pleased to hear that Dr. Gu has been awarded a Fulbright to teach and complete research in China. This will allow him to extend his teaching expertise in investments, futures and options, and international finance to Chinese students. His Fulbright will also include conducting research on the Chinese stock market," said Provost Katherine S. Conway-Turner. "This is a significant award, and it will have immeasurable gains for Dr. Gu, the Jones School of Business and the college. I look forward to him sharing the insights he will gather when he returns to campus."

Gu said he is thankful to his colleagues and college leaders for their support. An American citizen, Gu said he feels honored to be awarded the Fulbright and looks forward to serving as a liaison between the U.S. and China.

"Its an honor, but you are a country builder," said Gu. "Its a prestigious thing, but you are serving the purpose of the American people."

Gu has taught financial management, futures and options, international finance, investments, money and banking, business statistics and microeconomics. He has compiled a record of research and publication that is remarkable both for quantity and quality. Since the mid-1990s, he has had 35 articles published in peer-reviewed journals, and he has attained an international reputation through his numerous conference presentations in Canada, Europe and Asia, and his research on Chinese financial markets. In 2003, he received the SUNY Chancellors Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activities.

In addition to his scholarly work, Gu assisted with a successful grant proposal to the U.S. Department of Education to fund a Center for International Business at Geneseo, and he serves as the advisor to Beta Gamma Sigma, the national honor society in the School of Business.

Gu is traveling to China early to spend the summer serving as a visiting financial economist to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. He received his masters degree and Ph.D. in finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he gained experience training Chinese bankers, executives and government officials.

Geneseos other Fulbright scholars are Jeff Koch, professor and chair of the political science and international relations department, who served as a Fulbright Scholar in American politics at East China Normal University in Shanghai, China, in 2002-03, and Robert F. Goeckel, professor of political science and coordinator of international relations, who conducted research in Berlin, Germany, as a Fulbright Scholar, in 1995-96.